Calif.’s 10-Hour Workday Bill Fails In Committee

Nancy Yaffe was quoted in the Law360 article “Calif.’s 10-Hour Workday Bill Fails In Committee.” While the full text can be found in the January 9, 2014, issue of Law360, a synopsis is noted below.

A bill that would allow employers to voluntarily launch the “alternative workweek,” which allows employees to work 10-hour days for four days a week, failed in a California Assembly committee vote.

Assembly Bill 907 would have eliminated the state’s requirement that employers pay daily overtime for any hours worked over the traditional 8. It would also eliminate the administrative costs of the current alternative workweek scheduling process.

“It’s unfortunate that AB 907 failed,” Yaffe said. “Many employees and employers would welcome such an option. It would allow employees to have a personal day each week to deal with family issues, medical appointments and school activities. It would alleviate traffic and lessen commute times. It would help many employees achieve the work-life balance they yearn for and the typical five-day week does not allow.”

One of the arguments against the bill is that it would have upset the balance that exists in the current system to protect employees.

According to Yaffe, however, there were protections written into the bill that would have helped employees.

“AB 907 had protections built in for employees. Employers still could not mandate a 4/10 schedule, and employees could change their minds by simply giving written notice,” Yaffe said. “California is an anomaly with its current 8-hour-per-day overtime structure. With the failure of AB 907, it will continue to be an anomaly and a place where many employers would prefer not to do business.”